3
Muslim Ibn Hajajj:
Introduction: Life Sketch Of Imam Muslim
The Ummah is unanimous over the authenticity of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. Anyhow, all this while, scholars have been wrangling which of the twain has precedence over the other. Imam An-Nawawi, the commentator of Muslim, says: Scholars concur that next to Qur’an, the most authentic books are Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. The Ummah has accepted them as such. Sahih Bukhari is more authentic, more profitable, and better in open and hidden perceptions. It is true that Imam Muslim benefitted by Imam Bukhari and used to say that he was matchless in Hadith sciences. All in all, Sahih Bukhari has precedence over Sahih Muslim. That is the right view and that is the opinion of the majority of the scholars and the experts in the Hadith sciences.
Imam Abi ‘Alee bin Hussain Nishaptri and some scholars of the Maghrib (the Muslim countries of North Africa) give precedence to Saheeh Muslim but the majority of scholars insist that it is Sahih Bukhari which should be given precedence. Abi Bakr Isma‘ili, the great Imam, Hafiz and jurist, has explained it, with arguments, in his book Al-Madkhal
[Source: Sahih Muslim, Page 33]
Ibn Daqiq Al Eid:
“And the Sheikh of our Shuyukh, Al Hafiz Abul Hassan Al Maqdisi used to say about a narrator that he narrated from in Saheeh (Bukhari & Muslim): he has crossed the bridge. That means: this criticism is not given any regard nor any consideration. And this is what we believe and say.”
[Source: Al Iqtirah Fi Bayan Al Istilah, Page 428]
Jamal Al Deen Al Qassimi:
"Chapter Heading: Explaining that doing Tajreeh of the Rijal of the Sahihain (Bukhari & Muslim) is not required Whose Hadirh Bukhari and Muslim have used as proof and who are found blameworthy by others, it is considered that the blame has no basis or reason."
[Source: Qawa'ed Al Tahdith Min Funun Mostalah Al Hadeeth, Page 312]